Talijanski parlament izglasovao je Zakon o zaštitno-ekološkoj zoni u Jadranskomu moru, koji obuhvaća područje od vanjskih granica talijanskoga teritorijalnog mora do crte sredine, i bit će pod talijanskom jurisdikcijom pa će tu za strane državljane i strane brodove vrijediti talijanska legislativa i zakoni Europske unije, te međunarodni sporazumi za sprječavanje onečišćenja mora, za zaštitu morskih organizama, biološke raznovrsnosti i arheološkog blaga na morskom dnu, osim propisa koji se odnose na ribolovnu djelatnost.
Zaštićeni ekološko-ribolovni pojas Republike Hrvatske obuhvaća morski prostor od vanjske granice teritorijalnog mora u smjeru pučine do crte razgraničenja epikontinentalnog pojasa uspostavljene Sporazumom između bivše SFRJ i Republike Italije o razgraničenju epikontinentalnog pojasa iz 1968. godine. Međutim, Hrvatski sabor odgodio je primjenu pravnog režima u tom pojasu za članice Europske unije i odredio da će se od l. siječnja 2008. za ribarske i druge brodove Europske zajednice primjenjivati ribolovni i ekološki propisi Republike Hrvatske u tom pojasu.
Posljedica proglašenja Zaštićenoga ekološko-ribolovnog pojasa Republike Hrvatske i talijanskoga zaštićenog ekološkog pojasa ogleda se, u prvom redu, u potpunom nestanku otvorenog mora kao instituta međunarodnog prava u Jadranu, jer se oba pojasa protežu od vanjskih granica teritorijalnog mora obiju država u smjeru pučine do crte sredine.
Kako je Hrvatski sabor u listopadu 2007. godine zakonom uspostavio Obalnu stražu Republike Hrvatske, koje brodovi i zrakoplovi mogu samostalno ili u suradnji s drugim ovlaštenim tijelima poduzimati progon plovnog objekta zatečenoga u kršenju propisa Republike Hrvatske ili općeprihvaćenih međunarodnih propisa i standarda, autor je u članku dao odgovor na pitanje može li se progon stranog broda započet u hrvatskomu teritorijalnom moru, obuhvativši zaštićeni ekološko-ribolovni pojas Republike Hrvatske, nastaviti i u talijanskomu zaštićenom ekološkom pojasu s obzirom na to da u tom području za strane državljane i strane brodove vrijede talijanski i zakoni Europske unije te međunarodni sporazumi koji se odnose na zaštitu i ekologiju mora i morskog dna s posebnim osvrtom na ovlasti carinskih tijela u zaštićenomu ekološko-ribolovnom pojasu Republike Hrvatske i progon stranoga broda s carinskoga motrišta.Italian Parliament enacted The Law on Protected Ecologic Zone in the Adriatic Sea which comprises the area from the outer boundaries of Italian territorial sea up to the medium line,and which will be under Italian jurisdiction. Both Italian as well as European Union laws will be applied for foreign citizens and foreign vessels in this area. The international agreements for preventing sea pollution, for protection of marine life, biological diversity and archeological heritage on sea bed will be applied too. The regulations regarding fishing activities will be excluded.
Protected ecologic-fishing zone of The Republic of Croatia comprises sea area from the outer boundaries of the territorial sea in the direction of the open sea, up to the line of delimitation of continental shelf set by means of The Agreement between former SFR of Yugoslavia and The Republic of Italy on the delimitation of continental shelf from 1968. In the meantime, Croatian Parliament postponed the application of the legal regime of this area for the States, Members of The European Union, which should start with the deadline of January 1 st 2008. From this date onwards, fishing and other vessels of The European Union will apply fishing and ecological regulations of the Republic of Croatia in this area.
The consequence of the enactment of the protected ecologic and fishing zone of the Republic of Croatia and Italian protected ecologic zone is reflected in the complete disappearance of the institute of the open sea as an institute of the international law in the Adriatic, since both areas stretch from the outer boundaries of the territorial sea of both States in the direction of the open sea up to the medium line.
In October 2007. Croatian Parliament enacted by the law , Coastguard of The Republic of Croatia, whose vessels and airplanes might independently or with the assistance of other authorized bodies take the persecution of the floating object captured in the violation of the regulations of The Republic of Croatia or generally accepted international regulations and standards. Accordingly, the author of the article answered to the question whether the persecution of a foreign vessel which started in the Croatian territorial sea, except in the protected ecologic and fishing area of the Republic of Croatia will continue, even in Italian protected ecologic area, taking into consideration the fact, that in this area for foreign citizens and foreign vessels both Italian and European Union laws will be valid, as well as international agreements referring to the protection and ecology of sea and sea bed with special reference to the jurisdiction of custom bodies in protected ecologic – fishing area of the Republic of Croatia, as well as the persecution of a foreign vessel from custom standpoint
